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Whether you’re a young adult about to live on your own for the first time or you’re going from a mortgage to a month-to-month rental in a new area, you need to be prepared before starting your apartment hunt. Finding the right place at the right price is no easy task, but it doesn’t have to be too overwhelming. After you figure out what you can afford, it’s simply a matter of finding the right apartment, agreeing to lease terms, and then signing on the dotted line.

Going from rags to riches is essentially the American Dream. Whether it happens by way of a better-paying job or winning the lottery, some studies suggest that money can change your behavior – and not always for the better. Of course, there are plenty of charitable, helpful, and giving wealthy people. However, results from some studies have proven that they may be the exception, rather than the rule.

It was one of those awkward moments I’d love to forget. I had flown to visit a friend after she had her first baby. As we shopped for clothes for her bundle of joy, I asked if we could go to lunch – my treat. My friend immediately bristled at the idea, and suggested we just head home to eat at her house. I kept pressing the issue – in my mind, I was crashing in her guest room, so buying her lunch was the least I could do. She continued to refuse and it turned into a cloud over our day.

Learning about money can be a bit of a trial by fire. Some were taught flawless finances by their parents, while others take courses in school. But for the rest of us, finance books, articles, and advice from friends and family make up most of our financial education. And while there are definitely nuggets of wisdom to be found, there’s also a ton of bad advice out there.

So how do you tell the difference between the solid financial truths and the money myths? It’s all about your individual situation. By applying the advice to your particular set of circumstances, you can see where it works – and where it doesn’t.

When it comes to travel planning, the Internet is an incredible resource – but, let’s face it, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. I love going on vacation, but organizing my trips is enough to give me some serious anxiety. From timing plane ticket purchases for the best possible deal, to waffling over hundreds of hotel options, getting the most bang for your travel bucks can be overwhelming.

Whether it’s the curse of indecision or inflexible dates, you can sabotage your ability to snag the best vacation deals before you even hop on a plane or gas up your car. By educating yourself about common spending traps, you can better allocate your money and set priorities before starting your search for vacation deals.

As a beauty and style blogger, it’s my business to try as many techniques as possible, and to test-drive as many products as I can. At least, that’s what I tell my husband when I come home from the store with a bag of new finds.

While trial and error has helped me discover a lot of my favorite items and tips, it has also led me to a lot of duds. Bad formulas, poor color payoff, and makeup techniques that simply don’t work are common. In other words, just because a tip appears in “Cosmopolitan,” it doesn’t mean it’s true.

As a mom of two, it has been a baptism by fire to see my children start to compare themselves to their classmates. My daughter came home from school the other day and said, “Mom? Gracie says she can skip eight monkey bars and I can’t skip any.”

Of course Gracie can’t really skip eight monkey bars – she’s a child, not Stretch Armstrong – but the conversation gave me pause because it was the first time I noticed my seven-year-old comparing herself to her friends.

Whether you’re spring cleaning or trying to minimize post-holidays clutter, donating used toys can help clear out your home and do some good at the same time. Getting those toys cleaned, assembled, and working is the first step, after which you need to find a place that accepts toy donations.

I always do a big toy clean-out before Christmas, which often leaves me with boxes and bags full of gently used items that can go to a good cause. I like discussing each charity with my kids to explain where their old toys are going. By explaining how other kids can use their previously loved gear, my children get involved in the spirit of giving – and they love to have input as to where we donate their stuff.

‘Tis the season to start trimming – your budget, that is, and not just your tree. A November 2013 Gallup poll found that while the average American originally expected to spend around $786 on the holidays back in October, that number is now down to $704. While it’s true that the general public might have a little less to spend, that reduction is also indicative of the changing mindset of spending as a whole. Consumers with big eyes are now wary of a volatile market and, consequently, of putting too much of the holiday season on plastic. This means more restricted budgets.

One of the things I love most about the holidays is that even ordinary outings feel special. The holidays are the time to dress up and put your best face forward, so it’s unlikely your everyday cosmetics and beauty routine are up to snuff. While you don’t need to run out and purchase a whole new makeup palette, make a few inexpensive tweaks to your beauty routine and up your game for holiday parties and time with friends and family.

The content on MoneyCrashers.com is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. References to products, offers, and rates from third party sites often change. While we do our best to keep these updated, numbers stated on this site may differ from actual numbers. We may have financial relationships with some of the companies mentioned on this website. Among other things, we may receive free products, services, and/or monetary compensation in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products or services. We strive to write accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors.